Knitting machine



July 8, 1941. Q MlLLER 2,248,506

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q 2. M

ATTORNEYS July 8, 1941. M. c. MILLER 2,248,506

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENNTO-R 694- L 16,.

BY 004M A OR EYS July 8, 1941. c, MILLER KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 mmm TNN NE lNV R M BY M ATTORNEYS New July 8, 1941. M. c. MILLER KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 QQM gm NNM INVENTOR ATTORNEYS July 8, 1941. M. c. MILLER KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 $923 BY @m mz ATTORNEYS y 3, 1941- M. c. MILLER 2,248,506

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2a, 1936 9 Sheets-Shept 7 ATTORNEYS July 8, 1941. M. c. MILLER 2,248,506

KNITTING MACHINE INVENTOR TTO NEYS Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Max C. Miller, Cumberland, R. 1.

Application February 28, 1936, Serial No. 66,207

37 Claims.

The present invention relates to flat fullfashioned hosiery machines.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved machine of this description which is well adapted for the knitting of a complete full-fashioned stocking blank including the welt, leg and foot portions thereof as a substantially continuous knitting operation upon the one machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a flat full-fashioned machine of this general description, a simple and eflicient mechanism to remove and to support the needle instep loops clear ofthe needles during the formation of the heel flap portions of the stocking blank, and thereafter to return the loops to the needles for the continued knitting of the foot and toe portions of the stocking blank.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a foot and leg machine of this description including mechanisms for forming the welt and for supporting the instep fabric, supporting and actuating devices for these mechanisms to form simple and efficient operating units which may be readily assembled upon machines of existing types.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a machine of this general description, knockover and webholder elements having a take-up action to clear the fabric to the backs of the needles, together with actuating means for causing these elements to cooperate in a novel and effective manner with the needles and the cooperating knitting devices during the performance of the v'arious knitting and transfer operations by the machine to produce a complete fullfashioned stocking blank.

It is a further object of the invention to modify and improve certain of the actuating and control mechanisms for the machine to secure a more efficient and fully automatic operation of the several cooperating knitting devices for the production of complete full-fashioned stocking blanks.

With these and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, one feature of the invention consists in the provision with an instep fabric supporting bar comprising a series of loop lifting implements, of novel actuating mechanism therefor which is well adapted for imparting a series of positioning movements to the instep bar to lift from the needles and to support the instep needle loops beyond the back line of the needles during the knitting of the needle flaps,

* chine to and thereafter to return the instep loops to the needles.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of a single supporting structure for the Welt bar and instep bar associated with each section of the machine, which in the preferred form of the invention takes the form of a hanging frame or pendant supported on a vertically movable pivot directly above the needles, together with means for substituting one or the other of said bars in operating position.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of separate welt and instep bar actuating devices for controlling the movements of the hanging frames or pendants associated with the several sections, and the welt and instep bars supported thereon, to perform successively the operations of forming the welt, and of removing from, and returning the instep fabric loops to the needle.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, control mechanisms are provided for controlling the operation of the notched knockover and webholder elements of the present masecure the necessary cooperation thereof with the needles and associated operating instrumentalities for turning the welt, for taking up and forcing the fabric along the backs of the needles during normal knitting and narrowing operation, for the setting up of raw edges of fabric loops, and for assisting in the operation of the instep bar both to remove and to return the instep needle loops to the needles.

The features of the invention consist also in the devices, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed which, together with the advantages to be obtained thereby, will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a multiple section flat full-fashioned foot and leg knitting machine, only so much of the machine being shown as is necessary to illustrate the connection of the present invention therewith; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, certain of the cams on the shaft 210 having been removed; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, illustrating on an enlarged scale the several knockover element actuating cams; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, illustrating on an enlarged scale a portion of the up and down cam motion for the instep bar; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2,

illustrating on an enlarged scale the needle bar, the knockover bit bar and the narrowing frame including leg and foot narrowing points; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the complete stocking blank as it appears when cast off from the needles; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, illustrating the stocking blank after the operation of looping the side portions of the heel flaps to the newly set up portions of the sole fabric. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view in front elevation and on an enlarged scale, illustrating particularly welt and instep bars and a portion of the hanging frame supporting the same; Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is an end View looking from the left, of the parts shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but with the positions of the welt and instep bars reversed to position the welt bar in operating position on the hanging frame; Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view of the pattern chain controlled levers illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 13 is an end view looking from the left illustrating substantially the parts shown in Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a sectional plan view taken on the line I4-I4 of Fi 12; Fig. 15 is a detail view looking from the right taken substantially on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 1, illustrating particularly a portion of the control mechanism for shifting the instep bar actuating cams into and out of operation; Fig. 16 is a detail plan View of the right hand end of the machine table shown in Fig. 1, illustrating particularly a portion of the control mechanism for determining the position of the several instep bars of the machine lengthwise of the needle series; Fig. 17 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 16, showing additionally the instep bar guide members; Figs. 18 to 33 inclusive, are a series of somewhat diagrammatic views illustrating the relative positions of the instep loop lifting instrumentalities and the cooperating needles, sinkers and webholder elements during the successive steps in the operation of removing the instep needle loops from the needles, and the subsequent return of these loops to the needles after the knitting of the heel fiap portion of the fabric; Figs. 34 to 37 inclusive, are somewhat diagrammatic sectional views of the subsidiary cam shaft, illustrating the relative positions of the instep bar actuating cams and the mechanism for shifting these cams, Fig. 34 being taken on the line 34-34 of Fig. 1, to illustrate particularly the position of the cam for moving the instep bar vertically to remove the instep loops from the needles just prior to the shifting of said cam into operating position, Fig. 35 being a view taken on the line 3535 of Fig. 1, to illustrate particularly the cooperating cam for imparting forward and back movements to the instep bar for a position of the shifting mechanism shown in Fig. 34, Fig. 36 being a sectional view taken on the line 3636 of Fig. 1, illustrating the position of the cam for moving the instep bar vertically to return the loops to the needles in a position just prior to the shifting of this cam into operating position, Fig. 37 being a sectional view taken on the line 31-31 of Fig. 1, to illustrate the cooperating cam for moving the point bar forward and back in a position corresponding to that illustrated in Fig. 36; Figs. 38 to 55 inclusive, are a series of somewhat diagrammatic views showing the cooperative relationships of the needles, sinkers and knockover elements in succeeding steps during the setting up of a raw edge of fabric on the needles and during the subsequent knitting of a plurality of succeeding courses; Fig. 56 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 56-56 of Fig. 1, to illustrate particularly the cooperative relationships of the webholder element 'cam lever and the control mechanism therefor; Figs. 57 to 59 inclusive are a series of similar views in front elevation showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 56 for three successive positions of the knockover element cam roll during the operation of setting up a raw edge of fabric and knitting a plurality of succeeding courses; Fig. 60 is an enlarged view of a welt hook; Fig. 61 is a sectional view taken on a line 6l6l of Figure 1, illustrating a modified or more complete form of applicants invention; Fig. 62 is a view in front elevation of the parts shown in the upper portion of Fig. 61; Figs. 63 and 64 illustrate respectively in front and side elevation a specific form of loop lifting implement; Fig. 65 is a sectional view taken on a line 6565 of Fig. 63 illustrating the operation of the improved loop lifting point to maintain the fabric loops on the points and corresponds specifically to the position of these elements illustrated, for instance, in Fig. 28; and Fig. 66 is a similar sectional view, taken through applicants improved loop lifting point and the needle cooperating therewith ,during the transfer operation, and corresponds to the position of these parts illus trated specifically in Fig. 32.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is a multiple section fiat full-fashioned machine of ordinary description having a series of supporting frames such as that shown at 66 in Fig. 1 which are spaced along the length of the machine and serve as bearing supports for the various shafts and rods for controlling the several knitting devices of the machine. The frames are rigidly connected together by the usual work table 65 and supporting rails such as indicated for instance at 61 and 68 in Fig. 2.

The knitting instrumentalities for each knitting section of the machine include a series of spring beard needles 69 which are movable as a unit and have imparted thereto the usual vertical and forward and back or in and out positioning movements with relation to a fixed press edge 10, cooperating yarn measuring sinkers H having the usual construction and mode of operation of these elements, and cooperating knockover and webholder elements I2 which are constructed and arranged to perform. the usual functions of these elements in a new and more efiicient manner and also to perform certain additional functions as hereinafter described, and also as set forth in part in applicants copending application Serial No. 59,236, filed J anuary 15, 1936.

The needles 69 for the several sections of the machine are carried on needle bars 13 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) which are pivotally supported in the usual manner on horizontal lever arms 14 secured to a rock shaft 15 extending the length of the machine. Vertical movements are imported to the needles by means of one or more downwardly extending cam levers such as that indicated at 16 in Figs. 1 and 2, rigidly secured at its upper end to the rock shaft 15, and provided at its lower end with a cam roll 11 for engagement alternatively with the usual knitting cam 18 and narrowing cam 19 on the main cam shaft of the machine. Forward and back movements are imparted to the needles through the usual connections which include downwardly extending lever arms 8| secured to the needle bars 13 which are connected by means of links 82 to lever arms 83 secured to a rock shaft 84 extending the length of the machine. Certain of the levers 83 are provided with downward extensions such as that indicated at 85 provided with a cam roll 06 for engagement alternatively with the usual knitting cam 81 and narrowing cam 88. Inasmuch as the supporting and actuating connections for the needles 69 and sinkers II are well known in the art and have the usual mode of operation for both knitting and narrowing, no further description thereof is believed necessary.

The knockover and webholder elements employed with the present machine, have substantially the construction set forth in applicants copending application Serial No. 59,236 above referred to, being provided with two substantially parallel knockover surfaces at slightly different levels separated by a yarn engaging throat in the form of an undercut notch. These knockover elements are maintained under an adjusted spring pressure in a normally raised position closely adjacent the under side of the sinkers, and are arranged for forward and back movements with relation to the needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage in the throats and to position the sinker loops of the previously knitted course beyond the back line of the needles during the knocking over of the new loops on the inner or raised knockover surfaces. With this construction and mode of operation of the knockover elements during normal knitting, as above set forth, and as more fully described in applicants copending application Serial No. 59,236 above referred to, the knockover elements operate as a fabric take-up to surely and accurately position the needle loops of the previously knitted course beyond the back line of the needles prior to and during the subsequent rising movements of the needles, and serve, therefore, to take the place of the fabric take-up mechanism ordinarily employed in fullfashioned machines of this general description.

The knockover and webholder elements I2 for each section of the machine are rigidly secured to a knockover bar or support 89 (Figs. 2 and which is pivotally supported at each end on support levers 90 loosely sleeved on a supporting rock shaft 9| of the machine. There is also secured to each knockover bit bar 89, a downwardly extending lever arm: 92 which is acted upon at its lower end by means of a tension spring 93 to maintain the lever 92 in engagement with an adjustable stop screw 94 carried on one of the supporting lever arms 90 to maintain the knockover elements yieldingly in a raised position adjacent the under side of the sinkers. As in applicants copending application Serial No. 59,236 above referred to, forward and back movements are imparted to the supporting lever arms 90 and the knockover elements I2 through connections which include an upwardly extending actuating lever 98 rigidly secured to the rock shaft 9|, one such lever preferably being provided at each end of each section, and a downwardly extending cam lever I00 also secured to the rock shaft 9i. A tension spring I02 connected at one end to the lever arm 98 and at its other end to the supporting lever 00, tends to maintain the supporting levers 90 and knockover elements in a relatively forward position determined by the engagement of an adjustable stop screw I04 on the lever arm 98 with a corresponding abutment I06 formed integrally with the lever arm 90. The cam lever I00 is provided at its lower end with a transversely extending pin I08 on which is supported an axially shiftable cam roller H0 arranged for engagement alternatively with any one of several actuating cams on the main cam shaft 80, including a knitting cam H2, a narrowing cam H4, and a fabric set-up cam or disk 6 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 5'7 to 59 inclusive).

The position of the knockover bit operating roller M0 on the pin I08 is controlled by means of a cam roll shift member 8 (see Figs. 1, 2, and 56 to 59 inclusive) which is rigidly secured to a shift bar I20 extending the length of the machine, and is forked at its lower end to engage the cam roll I I3. A tension spring I22 connected at one end to a pin on the shift bar I20 and at its other end to one of the frames 66, tends normally to hold the shift bar and cam roll H0 in a position to the extreme left which is determined by the engagement of a lug I24 on the shift bar with the upper end of a pattern chain actuated lever I26 (see Figs. 1, 12, 13 and 14) which is supported on a pivot shaft I28 mounted on a bracket I29, and is provided at its lower end with a pattern chain engaging arm I30. With the parts in the position generally indicated in Fig. l, the webholder cam roll I I0 is engaged with the knitting cam H2. It will readily be seen that the shifting of the main cam shaft to the right in accordance with the usual practice for narrowing, will cause the narrowing cam II4 to be brought into operative relationship with the roll IIO.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, mechanism is provided, controlled by the pattern mechanism through the pattern chain lever I26 and shift bar I20 above described in setting up a raw edge of fabric, to maintain the cam lever I00 in a raised position, and the knockover elements I2 controlled thereby retracted during the knitting of the initial or setting-up course, and thereafter to permit the advance of the knockover elements to engage the throated portions thereof with the sinker loops, and to maintain a continuous tensioning take-up strain against said loops during the knitting of a plurality of succeeding courses. This mechanism comprises a latch member I32 secured to the shift bar I20, and arranged upon the shifting of the bar to the right, to engage beneath a corresponding abutment I34 formed on the end of the webholder cam lever I00. The timing in the stepby-step advance of the pattern chain I35 which is constructed and arranged to operate in the usual manner, is such as to cause a bump formed thereon to engage with the pattern shift lever I26 to shift the bar I20 to the right when the cam roll H0 is engaged upon the high portion of the knitting cam II2 substantially at the point designated at I38 in Fig. 2, so that the latch member I32 is caused to move under the abutment I34 as the roller H0 is moved out of alignment with the knitting cam II2. When the pattern chain is again shifted at the end of another knitting cycle, or at the completion of the initial or setting-up course of ravel sole fabric, the pattern shift lever I26 is engaged by a still higher bump on the pattern chain, causing the shift bar I20 to be moved still further to the right, so that the latch member I32 rides out from under the abutment I34 as best shown in Fig. 59, to release the cam lever I00 which falls inwardly towards the setting-up cam I I6, thereby advancing the knockover elements to engage the throated portions thereof with the sinker loops. The shift bar may be maintained in its extreme position to the right during the knitting of a plurality of subsequent courses by causing the pattern lever I26 to be engaged with a series of high bumps on the pattern chain which is advanced as above pointed out at the completion of each knitting cycle on the machine. During the course of subsequent knitting, the pattern lever I26 is permitted to return to its normal position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 12, by disengagement thereof with the high bumps on the pattern chain, and the latch I32 will pass under and beyond the abutment I34 on the webholder cam lever I 60, the final shift to the left under the pressure of the spring I22 being delayed by the engagement of the roll with the side of the knitting cam II2 until a low portion thereof is reached.

The several steps in the operation of the knockover elements I2 under the control of the settingup cam H6 during the setting up of a raw edge of fabric and in the knitting of a plurality of subsequent courses, is illustrated in the diagrammatic views Figs. 38 to 55 inclusive, of the drawings.

Fig. 38 shows the knockover bits as they will normally be engaged with the sinker loops and with the needles 69 pulled down almost to their lowest position during the press-off of the previously knitted fabric as, for instance, would be the case prior to the knitting of the initial ravel courses of sole fabric in accordance with the mode of operation in the knitting of a fullfashioned stocking blank hereinafter more fully to be described. As there is no new yarn in the needle hooks, the subsequent downward movement of the needles will cast off the fabric, after which the needles return to their yarn sinking position shown in Fig. 39, the knockover bits standing between the needles with their notches considerably to the back side of the needles corresponding to the engagement of the cam roll I I with the low portion of its knitting cam IIZ.

After the needles have reached their high position and prior to yarn sinking, the knockover bits are withdrawn in the customary manner as shown in Fig. 40. This figure also shows the subsequent kinking of the initial course of yarn for the new fabric around the needles, which thereafter go through their usual knitting motions as shown in Figs. 41 to 44 inclusive. While in the position shown in Fig. 44, the knockover bits would normally project through notches toward the backs of the needles, but during the setting up of the raw edge of fabric as herein described, they are prevented from so doing by the shift of the bar I20 to the right, which as above described, operates to position the latch I32 beneath the abutment I34 of the knockover cam lever I 00, so that the initial course of yarn can be pulled upon the low or knockover surface of the knockover elements I2 as shown in Fig. 46. Prior to the rise of the needles preparatory to the knitting of a second course, the bar I20 is shifted still further to the right by the engagement of the pattern lever I26 with a still higher bump on the pattern chain I35, to move the latch I32 still further to the right out of engagement with the abutment I34, so releasing the cam lever I00 and roll IIO which are permitted to fall inwardly toward the setting-up cam II6, thus causing the knockover elements to move forwardly or toward the backs of the needles. The notched portions of the knockover bits are thus brought into engagement with the sinker wale kinks of the initial course of yarn as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 46, the needles continuing to rise in the normal manner as shown in Fig. 4'1.

During the knitting of one or more subsequent courses, the rod I20 is maintained in its extreme position to the right by the engagement of the pattern lever I26 with a series of high bumps on the pattern chain, so that the knockover bits are maintained yieldingly in an advanced position in contact with the sinker bars of the initial course of yarn until a sufficient number of courses shall have been knitted to prevent possible unravelling or disintegration of the fabric structure during subsequent knitting. The subsequent steps in the knitting of the second course are particularly illustrated in Figs. 48 to 54 inclusive.

As illustrated in the drawings, the continued racking of the pattern chain I35 disengages the last of the high bumps on the pattern chain from beneath the pattern lever I26, and the cam roll H0 is again moved to the left into engagement with its regular knitting cam II2 prior to the knitting of a third course. The knockover bits are thus withdrawn prior to the next yarn sinking stroke of the sinkers as shown in Fig. 55, so that from this point the knockover elements continue to function in the normal manner for ordinary knitting. It will be understood that the knockover bits where found desirable in knitting with certain types of yarn, may be maintained in contact with the fabric during knitting of one or more additional courses to insure the production of a sufficient amount of fabric to prevent possible unravelling of the initial courses when the normal mode of operation of the knockover bit is resumed.

There is provided with the present machine, the usual narrowing mechanism for producing the narrowings of the leg and foot portions of a full fashioned stocking blank. Inasmuch as these mechanisms are well known in the art, it is believed that only a brief description thereof in connection with Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings, will be necessary. This mechanism comprises the usual narrowing machine in the form of a shaft I40 extending the length of the machine and supported at intervals along its length upon lever arms I42 fulcrumed on a pivot shaft I44 at the rear of the machine. A number of downwardly extending brackets or arms I46 rigidly secured to the assembly including the shaft I40 and arms I42, provide supports for a number of axially shiftable narrowing point carrier bars I48, I50, I52 and I54. Two groups of narrowing points for each section designated respectively at I56 and I58 are secured respectively to the point carrier bars 148 and I52, for operation in the usual manner as selvage narrowing points for shaping the top of the leg, the calf, heel and sole. Two additional sets of narrowing points for each section as designated at I60 and I62 are secured respectively to the bars I50 and I54 which operate in the usual manner to shape the toe portion. of the stocking blank. There is also provided with each section the usual point knife I64.

The narrowing machine is raised and lowered to cause the several sets of narrowing points above described, to cooperate with the needles through connections which include the link I66 (Figs. 1 and 2) connected at its upper end to the narrowing machine, and at its lower end to a laterally extending cam lever I58 which is supported at its forward end on a pivot I10 and is provided intermediate its length with a cam roll I14, for cooperative engagement with the usual narrowing cams generally indicated at I18 on the main cam shaft 88 of the machine.

In order that the narrowing machine supporting the selvage and toe transfer points may be locked out of operation during the removal and return of the instep needle loops to the needles as hereinafter described, there is also provided with the present machine the usual narrowing machine locking-out mechanism which may be described briefly as follows in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. This mechanism takes the form of a roller lever I88 which is secured at its lower end to a shaft I82 (see Fig. 1), and is provided at its upper end with a roller I84. Also secured to the shaft I82 is a lever I86 which is connected by means of a forwardly extending link I88 to a manually operable lever I98 supported on a stationary pivot HI and provided at its lower end with a handle I92. When the roller I84 is moved forwardly by turning the handle I92 to its dot-and-dash position (Fig. 2), it operates to engage with and lift the cam lever I68 and link I68 to a raised inoperative position in which the narrowing machine cam roller I14 will not be operated upon by the narrowing cams.

The mechanism for shifting the main cam shaft 88 axially to position the narrowing cams thereon into operative position, is generally indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. as comprising a shift roller I94 which is arranged for engagement with a shift cam track formed on adjacent faces of the cam disks I96 and I98 rigidly secured to the loam shaft 88. Inasmuch as this mechanism for shifting the cam shaft 88, is well known in the art, and is controlled in the usual manner from the pattern chain I35 of the machine, no further illustration thereof is believed necessary.

In accordance with the present invention, an automatic welt mechanism is provided for setting up the welt portion of the fabric on the machine, and thereafter for closing the welt, which has been particularly adapted and arranged to operate in combination with mechan sm hereinafter to be described for removing from the needles and supporting the instep portion of the fabric during the knitting of the heel flaps to provide a more fully automatic machine which is well adapted for substantially continuous operation to produce complete full-fashioned foot and leg stocking blanks. The welt mechanism herein disclosed is similar in many respects to that described and illustrated in applicants copending application Serial No. 726,285, filed May 18, 1934.

The welt mechanism referred to, comprises a welt bar 288 for each section of the malchine, each of said bars having rigidly supported thereon a series of welt hooks 282 spaced to cooperate with each alternate needle. The welt hooks are identical in their general construction and mode of operation with those set forth in applicants copending application above referred to, but may be briefly described in connection with Fig. 60 of the drawings, in which the hook is indicated as comprising a vertically extending shank tapered at its lower end to enable the hook with certainty to pass downwardly between adjacent sinker and Webholder' elements in close proximity to the press edge to the beard side of the needles. There is also provided with each of these elements, a bifurcated hook 284 which is provided with tapered tip portions arranged to embrace the needle shank to permit the engagement of said hooks with and the lifting of alternate needle wale kinks over the tops of the needles subsequent to the sinking of an initial course of yarn against the needle shanks by the sinkers. There is also provided at the base of each bifurcated hook, a vertically extending cam portion 286 which is arranged when the hooks and welt loops held thereon are positioned over the needles during the closing of the welt, to engage with and guide the tips of the needles upwardly through the loops held thereon.

The welt bar 288, as best shown in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, is slidably mounted in guideways 2 I8 formed in a supporting frame 2I2 which comprises two arms pivotally mounted on two studs 2I4 formed on the lower end of a hanging frame or pendant 2 I6 which provides the main support for the welt bar and also the instep bar hereinafter to be described. The pendants 2I6, of which one is provided for each section of the machine, are secured at their upper ends to a rock shaft 2I8 which is supported directly above the needles at a plurality of points along its length in bearings formed in forwardly extending lever arms or hangers 228 secured to a pivot shaft 222. With this construction and arrangement of the hanging frame 2I6 and supporting arms or hangers 228, the frames 2I8 and elements supported thereon are readily movable forward and back with relation to the needles on the pivotal support provided by the rock shaft 2I8, and may be moved vertically with relation to the needles by the movement of the arms 228 to raise or lower the rock shaft 2I8.

In accordance with certain features of the present invention, there is also supported on each of the hanging frames 2I6, an instep point bar 224 which carries a series of loop lifting or transfer points 228 corresponding to the instep needles, and which is connected to the welt bar, so that either one of said bars may be moved into operating position, while at the same time the ot er bar is moved to an inoperative position. The instep bar is supported on two lever arms 238 of a double lever which is rigidly supported on a pivot shaft 232 which extends between the two downwardly extending side portions of the hanging frame 2I6, being supported at each end in bearings formed in the pivot pins 2I4 to permit a free rotational movement of the shaft 232 and levers 238, and also an axial movement thereof lengthwise of the needle series. In order to provide for an angular adjustment of the loop lifting points 228 in their support, the point bar 224 is connected to the levers 238 by two pivot pins 236, and is adjustably maintained in the desired angular position with relation to the lever arms 238 by means of stop screws 238 which are carried on lugs 248 on the lever arm 238, and are arranged for engagement with adjacent portions of the point bar 224 at each side of the pivotal support provided by the pins 236 to hold the point bar 224 rigidly in the desired angular position. For operatively connecting the point bar to the welt bar, there are also provided two extensions 242 of the lever arms 238 which are offset from the pivot shaft 232 in a substantially opposite direction, and are connected at their tip ends so that the lever arms 238 and 242, and pivot shaft 232, combine to form the rigid double lever unit above referred to. The lever arms 242 are adjustably connected to the slidable welt bar 288 for angular adjustment of the welt bar with relation to the instep bar 224 about the pivot studs 2I4 by means of an adjustable stop screw 244 which is loosely fitted in a boss 245 formed on the adjoining ends of the levers 242, and for axial adjustment of the welt bar with relation to the instep bar lengthwise of the needle series by means of two adjustable stop screws 246 carried in lugs 248 on the welt bar for engagement with opposite sides of the assembly including the lever arms 242 and boss 245. With this construction and arrangement of the double lever comprising the arms 230 and 242, it will readily be seen that while the entire assembly including the two bars and the supporting levers therefor are free to turn about the pivotal center provided by the studs 2l4, the angular relationship of the two bars remains fixed. In order to permit one of the other bars to be swung freely into operating position, the hanging support 216 is constructed and arranged to provide a sufficient clearance to permit the movement of the relatively short instep bar over the pivot provided by the studs 2M and through the frame. In order to locate one or the other of said bars in operating position, a toggle spring arrangement is provided comprising tension springs 25%), each of which is connected at one end to the supporting frame 2I2 for the welt bar, and at its upper end to an arm 252 which is rigidly secured in adjusted position on a stud 254 on the hanging frame 216. With the welt bar 260 in operating position as illustrated in Fig. 11, the spring operates upon one side of the pivot provided by the studs 214 to support the welt bar yieldingly upwardly in a limiting position determined by the engagement of stop pins 256 on the arms of the welt bar supporting frame 212 with two rearwardly extending stop levers 258 which are pivoted on the studs 2". For convenience of assembly, the stop levers 25B are provided with upwardly extending portions which are sleeved on the studs 254 to provide a rigid structure. When the positions of the welt bar and instep bar are reversed to position the instep bar in operating position, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the toggle springs 250 operate on the other side of the pivot provided by the studs 214 to move the welt bar upwardly and the instep bar down wardly against limiting stops provided by the engagement of adjustable stop screws 26!) carried on the supporting frame 212 with downwardly extending stop lugs 262 formed on the upward extension of the stop levers 258 above described. The stop lugs 262 are arranged also for engagement with downwardly extending arms of the toggle spring supporting levers 252 to further support said levers. With the construction and arrangement of the parts disclosed, it will readily be seen that the toggle springs 250 perform the additional function of permitting a yielding downward movement of the welt bar and hook supported thereon when such action is desired during the knocking over of the initial or setting-up course of welt loops subsequent to the removal of the loops forming the setting-up course from the alternate needleS.

The present machine is also provided with the mechanism for automatically laying in a welt wire which is similar to that specifically set forth in applicants copending application Serial No. 726,285 above referred to, and comprises welt wire guideways 263 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, which are rigidly secured to the table 65, one at each side of each section. The welt wires are normally supported at the inner end of the guideway on the tip portions of latch levers 264 against the tensioning strain of take-up straps (not shown) which may be of ordinary description, extending from opposite ends of the welt Wires to the usual fabric takeup roll 265 of the machine. The welt wires are automatically released to bring them into operative engagement with the welt fabric after a sufficient amount of such fabric has been knitted, through connections which include lever arms 266 secured to a rock shaft 261, links 268 connecting the lever arms 266 to the welt wire latch levers 264, a control lever 269 and downwardly extending link 211 shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, which are preferably operated from the pattern chain I35 of the machine, as set forth in applicants copending application Serial No. 726,285 above referred to.

Inasmuch as it is proposed as hereinafter more fully set forth, at some point in the knitting operation subsequent to the closing of the welt, to wholly disconnect the fabric from the usual take-up roller 265 and take-up straps associated therewith, and to continue the formation of the leg and foot portions of the fabric without utilizing any take-up device other than the knockover elements 12 above described, there is provided with each section of the machine, a fabric guideway or support in the form of a fiat plate 213 of a width equal to the length of the section, and extending from. a point closely adjacent the under sides of the knockover elements across the table 65 of the machine, and terminating at its forward end in a downwardly curved chute to permit the convenient delivery of the stocking blanks into receptacles placed at the front of the machine.

In accordance with the present invention, mechanism is provided controlled from the pattern mechanism of the machine, for moving the hanging frames 216 and welt bars carried thereon in timed relation to the needle movement to set up and to close the welt, and similarly for moving the hanging frames 216 and instep bars carried thereby to remove from. the needles and support the instep needle loops during the knit ting of the heel flaps, and thereafter to return the loops to the needles. This mechanism comprises a secondary cam shaft 210 which is supported in the overhead portion of the machine directly beneath the rock shaft 218, and is driven in timed relation to the main cam shaft by means of a sprocket chain 212 (see Fig. 1) which passes over a sprocket 214 on the subsidiary cam shaft 210, and over a similar sprocket 216 on the main cam shaft 80. The subsidiary cam shaft has rigidly secured thereto, two vertical motion welt cams 218 and 269 which are rendered operative respectively to control the vertical movements of the welt bar during the setting up and closing of the welt, and also two welt in and out cams 282 and 284 which are arranged to control the forward and back movements of the hanging frames and welt hooks respectively during the setting up and closing of the welt.

For controlling the forward and back and vertical movements of the hanging frames 216 and instep bars 224, two vertical motion instep cams 286 and 288 are formed on a sleeve member 269 which is keyed to rotate with but is axially movable with relation to the subsidiary cam shaft 210. Similarly, two forward and back motion instep cams 290 and 292 are provided formed on a sleeve member 294 which is similarly keyed to rotate with and to slide axially of the subsidiary cam shaft 210. In order to control the axial position of the several instep cams above described, the subsidiary cam shaft 210 takes the form of a hollow tube within which is supported a shift rod 296 which extends the entire length of the machine, and is secured to each of the sleeve members 289 and 294 by means of cross pins extending through slots formed in the subsidiary cam shaft 210.

With the present construction, vertical movements are imparted to the hanging frames 216 and instep bars 224 alternatively from the cam 286 or 288 by means of a vertical motion cam lever 298 which is supported on the rock shaft 222 adjacent one of the supporting levers 220, and is maintained in an adjustable angular relationship thereto by means of stop screws 300 on the cam lever 238 which engage with a laterally extending pin 382 on the supporting lever 220. A cross pin 364 on a downward extension of the cam lever 298 carries two cam rolls 386 and 388 which are arranged respectively for engagement with the instep cams 286 and 288. During normal knitting, the cam lever and rolls 366 and 368 are centered between and out of engagement with both cams.

Forward and back movements are imparted to the hanging frame 2 l6 and instep bars 224 from the actuating cams 290 and 292 above described, through connections which comprise a cam lever 316 which is rigidly secured to a rock shaft 3!2 toward the rear of the machine, and carries at its forward end two cam rolls 314 and 3i6 which are arranged for engagement respectively with the actuating earns 29!] and 292. During normal operation of the machine, the cam lever 310 and rolls 314 and 3i6 are centered between and out of engagement with their actuating cams, as shown in Fig. 1. 312 is a lever 318 provided at its lower end with a pin 326 which serves as a pivotal support for a link 322. The link 322 is provided at its forward end with a recess 324 arranged for locking engagement with a pin 326 carried on a downwardly extending lever 328 secured to the rock shaft 218 supporting the hanging frame 216. A downwardly projecting lip 32!! on the end of the link 322 maintains an operative contact with the pin 326 to limit movement of the hangers 216 r and lever 328 outwardly when the link is raised as hereinafter described, to disconnect the instep forward and back cam motion. There is also carried on the cross pin 320, a link control cam lever 330 which is fitted at its forward end with a pin 332 and a cam roller 334 which are arranged to engage respectively with a cam 336 and a disk 338 which are supported on a sleeve hub on the cam shaft 218, being operatively connected to the shift rod 286 for axial movements relatively to the cam shaft 218 by means of a cross pin extending through slots formed in the cam shaft 219. During normal operation of the machine, the roll 334 rides on the disk 338, the pin 332 being out of engagement with the cam 336. There is also provided on the cam lever, a downwardly extending arm provided with a stop screw 342 which engages the link 322 and oper ates during normal knitting when the roll 334 is engaged upon the disk 338 to maintain the link 322 in a raised position out of engagement with the pin 326. A tension spring 346 connected at one end to a stationary portion of the machine, and at its other end to a rearwardly extending arm of the link 322, tends to move the link down- Also secured to the rock shaft wardly into operative engagement with the pin 326.

The lever connections actuated by the welt cams above described for imparting vertical movements and forward and back movements to the hanging frames 2I6 and welt bars 286, are substantially identical in their construction and mode of operation with the instep actuating levers above described. Further, inasmuch as these connections are substantially identical both in construction and mode of operation with the connections illustrated in applicants copending application Serial No. 126,285 above referred to, and do not form specifically a part of the present invention, only a brief description thereof is believed necessary in connection with Fig. 1 of the drawings, to illustrate the connection of the present invention therewith. Vertical movement is imparted to the hanging frames 216 and welt bars 200 supported thereon from the welt vertical motion cams 218 and 288, by means of a cam lever 350 (Fig. 1) which is identical with the instep vertical motion lever 298 shown in side elevation in Fig. 4, being mounted on the rock shaft 222 adjacent one of the supporting levers 220 in adjusted an ular relation thereto, and provided at its outer end with two cam rolls 352 and 354 arranged for engagement respectively with the welt vertical motion cams 218 and 280. During the normal operation of the machine, the cam lever 35!] and rolls 352 and 354 are centered between and out of engagement with their actuating cams. For imparting forward and back movements to the hanging frames 2I6 from the welt forward and back motion cams 282 and 284, there is provided a cam lever 356 which is similar to the instep forward and back motion cam lever 3!!! shown in Fig. 2, being rigidly secured at its rear end to the rock shaft 3l2, and being provided at its forward end with two cam rolls 358 and 36!) arranged for engagement respectively with the welt cams 282 and 284 (see Fig. 1). During normal operation of the machine, the cam lever 356 and rolls 358 and 360 are centered 5 between and out of engagement with their actuating cams 282 and 284. Cooperating with the welt cam lever 356, is a downwardly extending double lever comprising the arms 362 and 364 connected at their lower ends by a cross pin 366 which serves as a pivotal support for a forwardly extending link 368 having formed in the forward end thereof a recess and a downwardly extending lip arranged for engagement with a laterally extending pin in a downwardly extending lever arm 318 rigidly secured to the rock shaft 2I8 supporting the hanging frames 2|6. The links 368 is normally held in a raised inoperative position by means of a link control lever 312 pivoted on the cross pin 366 and provided with a downwardly extending arm 314 which serves as a support for an adjustable stop screw engaging with the under side of the link 368. At its forward end the control lever 312 is provided with a laterally extending pin 316 and a cam roll 318 which are arranged to cooperate respectively with a cam 388 and disk 382 rigidly secured to the cam shaft 218. During the normal operation of the machine, the roll 318 rides on the disk 382 to maintain the link 368 out of locking engagement with the lever arm 318, the pin 316 being out of engagement with the cam 388 as shown in Fig, 1. A tension spring (not shown) tends to move the link downwardly when released by the operation of the cam lever 312. The lever arms 362 and 364, link 368, lever arm 310 and cam lever 312,

are identical in construction and mode of operation with the corresponding parts for imparting the forward and back instep movements to the hanging frames 2|6 above described and illustrated in side elevation in Fig. 2.

The hanging frames 2I6 are swung yieldingly outward toward a limiting position in which the downwardly extending lip 329 engages with the pin 326 on the lever arm 328 secured to the rock shaft 2|8 by means of a take-up device which comprises a segmental chain supporting member 390 formed on the hub of the lever 310, to which is secured a take-up chain 392 which may be of any ordinary description as indicated in Fig. 2. This chain preferably extends rearwardly over a take-up pulley (not shown), and has secured thereto a weight which may be adjusted to secure the desired forward tensioning strain on the hanging frames 2 l 6.

In order that the supporting levers 220 for the rock shaft 2l8 and hanging frames 2l6 may be normally supported in a predetermined vertical position during the normal operation of the machine, and to permit the movement of the welt and instep vertical motion and forward and back motion cams beneath their respective actuating levers, there is provided with the present construction, a latch lever 394 which is mounted free to oscillate on a pivot rod 396, and carries a stop screw 398 arranged normally to engage beneath an extension 400 on one of the supporting levers 220. The lower end of the latch lever 394 is forked to provide two cam follower members 402 and 404, the follower member 402 being arranged to be acted upon alternatively by either of two welt mechanism trip cams 406 and 408 rigidly secured to the cam shaft 210, the follower 404 being similarly arranged to be acted upon alternatively by two instep mechanism trip cams M and M2 keyed to rotate with the cam shaft 210 and connected for axial movement with the shift rod by means of a cross pin extending through slotted portions in the cam shaft 210. During the normal operation of the machine, the followers 492 and 404 are centered respectively between and out of engagement with their actuating cams as shown in Fig. 1. With this construction and arrangement of the parts, it will readily be seen that an axial movement of either the cam shaft 210 or shift rod 296 in either direction to bring any one of the welt or instep vertical motion cams into alignment with the corresponding rolls on the cam levers, will cause one or the other of the follower members 402 or 404 to be aligned with the corresponding cam 406, 408, M0 or 2, to

move the latch lever 394 and stop pin 398 forwardly out of engagement with the extension 460 of the supporting lever 220.

The welt and instep forward and back motion cam levers 3 l 0 and 356 are normally supported in a raised inoperative position to permit the movement of the welt and instep in and out motion cams beneath their actuating rolls by means of a rearwardly extending latch 4l6 (Fig. 2) pivoted on the shaft 396 and provided at its rear end with a stop screw 4|8 which normally engages a laterally offset lug 420 of a vertically extending lever arm 422 rigidly secured to the rock shaft 3|2. The position of the latch lever M6 is controlled from the latch lever 394 above described, which carries on the rearward extension thereof, a stop screw 424 arranged to engage with a log 426 on the latch 4I6, being held in engagement by a tension spring 428 connected at one end to the rearward extension of the latch lever 394, and

at its other end to the latch lever 6. With this construction and arrangement of the parts, it will readily be seen that the forward movement of the latch lever 394 to release the welt or instep vertical motions, will simultaneously operate to depress the latch M6 to release the welt and instep forward and back motion cam levers secured to the rock shaft 3l2.

In accordance with the present invention, mechanism is provided which is controlled from the pattern mechanism of the machine for moving the shift rod 296 axially to shift one set of instep cams into operation for moving the hangers H6 and instep bars 224 to remove the instep needle loops from the needles, and for again moving the shift rod 296 to render the alternative set of instep cams operative for returning the instep loops to the needles after the completion of the heel fabric. The mechanism for controlling the axial position of the shift rod 296 comprises a shift cam lever 430 which is supported on a pivot shaft 432, and at its upper end is provided with a cam roller 434 which is arranged to cooperate with any one of three shift cam tracks formed on the adjacent faces of cam disks 435 and 436 formed integrally with a sleeve 438 which is keyed to rotate with the cam shaft 210, and is connected by means of a cross pin extending through slots in the cam shaft for axial movement with the shift rod 296.

Movement of the shift cam lever 430 and shift roll 434 inwardly a relatively small distance toward the axis of the cam shaft 210, causes the roll to engage with cooperating face cam surfaces forming a shift cam track 440 to move the assembly including the cam disks 435 and 436 to the left, thus causing the instep cams 288 and 292 to move beneath their follower rolls 308 and 3l6 respectively, and at the same time causing the cam M2 to engage beneath the follower arm 404 to trip the latch lever 394 as above described. At the same time the disk 338 is moved to the left from under the roll 334, so that the link 322 is permitted to drop into locking engagement with the lever arm 328 to connect the hangers 316 to the instep in and out motion as above described. At the end of nearly one complete revolution of the subsidiary cam shaft 210, the shift rod 296 is moved to the right to its initial position when the shift lever 430 again moves outwardly to engage the shift roll 434 in a neutralizing cam track 443, thus causing the parts to be returned to their normal inoperative position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The shift lever 430 and shift roll 434 are moved positively away from the cam shaft 210 to neutral position by the engagement of a roll 442 on the shift lever with a cam 444 formed on the periphery of the cam disk 436.

Movement of the shift cam lever 430 and shift roll 434 a relatively greater distance toward the axis of the cam shaft 210, operates to engage the roll between the cooperating face cam surfaces forming the shift cam track 446 on the adjacent faces of the cam disks 435 and 436 to move the assembly including the disks 435 and 436 and shift rod 296 to the right, thus causing the instep cams 290 and 286 to be positioned respectively beneath their rolls 3l4 and 306, and the cam M0 to be positioned beneath the follower member 404 to disengage the latch lever 394 as above described. At the same time the disk 338 is shifted from under the roll 334 of the link control lever 330, to permit the dropping of the link 322 into locking engagement with the lever 328, thus operatively connecting the hangers 2|6 to the instep in and out motion. At the end of substantially one revolution of the cam shaft 218, the shift lever 438 and roll 434 are moved to neutral position in which the shift roll 434 engages in the neutralizing cam track 443 by the engagement of the cam 444 with the roll 442, so that the shift rod 286 is again moved to the left to its normal inoperative position. The position of the several cooperating parts is such as to permit the stop screws 398 to move under the extension 488 of the supporting lever 228 to lock the hangers 218 in their normal inoperative vertical position when the latch lever 384 is permitted to move inwardly as the cam M8 is returned to its inoperative position out of alignment with the follower member 484. A detailed description of the mode of operation of the instep mechanism above set forth will be found below in connection with the description of the machine operation to form a full-fashioned foot and leg stocking blank.

The mechanism through which the shift lever 438 is controlled from the pattern mechanism of the machine to effect the required shifting movements of the instep cams as above described, comprises a downwardly extending latch lever 458 secured to the pivot pin 432 to form a rigid downward extension of the shift lever 438, and a latch 452 pivotally supported at 454 on the machine frame, the latch being arranged for abutting engagement with the end portion of the latch lever 458, or with one of two successively raised steps 454 or 456 as best shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings. A tension spring 458 connected at one end to the latch 452 and at its other end to the table of the machine, tends normally to maintain the latch in a fully depressed position for engagement with the end portion of the latch lever 458. The position of the latch 452 is directly controlled from the pattern chain of the machine through connections which include a downwardly extending link 468 connected at its upper end to a forward extension of the latch 452 and at its other end to one end of a bellcrank lever 462, the other arm of which is connected by means of a long link 464 to a pattern chain lever 466 which is loosely mounted to turn on the pivot I28, and is provided with a pattern bump engaging extension 468 (see Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive).

With this construction and arrangement of the pattern mechanism for controlling the position of the instep shift lever 438, it will readily be seen that the engagement of the extension 468 of the pattern lever 466 with a relatively low bump on the pattern chain such as indicated at 468 in Fig. 12, will operate through the connections above described, to raise the latch 452 a relatively small distance against the pressure of its spring 458, permitting the shift lever 488 to fall inwardly to a position determined by the engagement of the latch with the step 454 to position the shaft 434 in engagement with the shift cam track 448 above described. Similarly, the engagement of the pattern chain lever 486 with a relatively high bump on the pattern chain such as indicated at 411 in Fig. 12, will operate to lift the latch 452 a relatively greater distance, causing the shift lever 438 to fall inwardly to a position determined by the engagement of the latch with the step 456 to position the shift roll 434 for engagement with the shift cam track 446.

In order to prevent inadvertent unlatching of the instep cam shift mechanism, a locking device is provided which comprises a lock lever 418 which is supported on a pivot 412 and normally contacts with an abutment 413 on the chain lever 466. The locking lever 418 is connected at its rear end by means of a link 414 to one arm of a bell-crank 416 carried on the pivot shaft I28 and provided at its other end with a bump engaging extension 418. A tension spring 488 connected at one end to the locking lever 418 and at its other end to a lug on the supporting bracket I29, tends to maintain the locking lever 478 in a locking position determined by the engagement of a stop screw 482 on a laterally extending arm 483 on the bracket I29 with the rearward extension of the bell-crank 416. The bump engaging extension 418 of the bell-crank 416, is arranged to engage with an instep control bump on the pattern chain slightly in advance of the engagement thereby with the extension 468 of the pattern chain lever 466 to rock the lever 416 and locking lever 418 against the tension of the spring 488 out of alignment with the abutment 414 prior to the movement of the pattern chain lever 466. When the pattern chain lever 466 is again permitted to move to the right to its normal inoperative position, the locking lever 418 will be permitted at the same time to return to the locking position shown in Fig. 12, under the influence of its spring 488.

There is provided with the present construction, a novel and improved mechanism for aligning the hooks of the welt bar 288 with the needles during the operations of setting up and closing q the welt, and also for the positioning of the points of the instep bar 224 lengthwise of the needle series during the operations of removing and returning the instep loops to the needles subsequent to the knitting of the heel flaps. To this end, two guide plates 488 are secured one to each end of the welt bar 288, which are arranged for operative engagement with stationary stop screws 492 carried on the welt wire guideway 263 (see Figs. 1 and 2) during the movement of the hangers 216 and welt bars 288 supported thereon into and out of operative engagement with the needles. This mechanism as thus far described, is substantially similar to that set forth in applicants copending application Serial No. 726,285, above referred to, and is therefore believed to need no further illustration. With the present construction there are also provided for each section of the machine, stop levers 494 which are rigidly secured to a rock shaft 4% supported on the table 65 of the machine, and are provided with surfaces for guiding engagement with the end plates 488 of the welt bar at each end of each section when the instep bar 224 is in operating position as shown in Fig. 10, to position the assembly including the welt bar 288, the arms 242 and 238 of the double lever, and the instep bar 224 lengthwise during the movement of the hangers 216 and instep bars 288 into and out of cooperating relationship to the needles. {In accordance with the mode of operation, the transfer points on the instep bar 224, as hereinafter more fully set forth, are first positioned in alignment with the needles to position the instep loops thereon, are then moved one-half a needle index to permit the points to pass between the needles, and are finally again aligned with the needles for the subsequent operation of returning the loops thereto. With the present construction, the indexing movements above referred to, are secured by an endwise shift of the rock shaft 496 through mechanism which operates in timed relation to the instep cams and cam shaft 218 to swing the levers upwardly from the inoperative position shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 1'7, to an intermediate position as indicated in dotted lines in the path of the guide plates 498 to align the points with the needles, and thereafter to the extreme high position also indicated in dotted lines with the simultaneous endwise shift of the rock shaft 496 toward the right end of the machine one-half a needle index. This shifting movement of the rock shaft is secured by means of two cooperating cam surfaces formed respectively on a supporting bracket 588 for the rock shaft 496, and on a collar 582 secured thereto (see Fig. 16). A tension spring 583 connected at one end to the rock shaft 496 and at its other end to the table 65, operates to maintain the rock shaft axially to the left with the cam surfaces referred to in operating engagement. The rocking movements are imparted to the shaft 496 and the lever arms 494 secured thereto through connections which comprise a lever arm 584 secured to the right hand end of the rock shaft 496, a link 586 connected at one end to the lever 584 and at its other end to a cam actuating lever 583 loosely mounted to turn on the shaft 3 I 2. A tension spring 5|8 connected to a rearwardly extending arm 5| 2 formed on the sleeve hub of the cam lever 588, tends normally to maintain the cam lever 588, link 586 and lever 584 in a normally depressed position determined by the engagement of the lever arm 584 with an abutment 5I4 on the end of the table 65. A laterally extending lug 516 on the cam lever 588 is arranged upon the shifting of the assembly including the cam disks 435 and 436 and shift rod 296 to the right for operative engagement with a cam 5l8 (see Fig. 35) formed on the outer face of the cam disk 436, and operates first to rock the shaft 496 and guide levers 494 into the intermediate position above described during the movement of the points on the instep bar 224 to remove the instep loops from the needles, and thereafter to rock the shaft 496 and guide levers 494 to the high position described, with a simultaneous shift of the rod to the right to shift the points one-half a needle index for the movement of the points forwardly between the needles, in accordance with the mode of operation hereinafter described. As the cam lever 588 now rides off the high portion of the cam 5| 8, the cam lever is permitted to fall to its intermediate position under the influence of the spring 5|8 where it is held by the engagement of a latch 528 loosely mounted on the shaft 222 with an upward extension 522 formed on the sleeve hub of the cam lever 588, thus returning the points on the instep bar into alignment with the needles, in which position they remain during the subsequent knitting and return of the loops to the needles. In order to trip the latch 528 and permit the return of the rock shaft 496 and guide levers 494 to the normal inoperative position shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 17, a pin 526 is formed on the outer face of the left hand cam disk 435 which is arranged upon the shifting of the assembly including the disks 435 and 436 and shift rod 296 to the left, for engagement with a trip lever 528 formed on the sleeve hub of the latch 528 to lift the latch out of engagement with the extension 522 of the cam lever 588. A tension spring 538 connected to the forwardly extending arm formed on the sleeve hub of the latch lever 528, tends normally to maintain the latch in operative position.

With the present construction there is also provided at the left hand end of the machine generally illustrated in Fig. 1, a pattern control mechanism for axially shifting the cam shaft 218 to render each of the two sets of welt cams operative to impart the required movements to the pendants 2l6 and welt bar 288 to set up an initial course of welt fabric, and thereafter to close the welt. Inasmuch as the shift mechanism employed is substantially identical with that illustrated in applicant's copending application Serial No. 726,285 above referred to, and has substantially the same mode of operation, it is believed that a brief description thereof will be sufficient. As best shown in Fig. 1, the shift mechanism employed comprises a shift lever 548 rigidly secured to a pivot pin 542, and provided at its upper end with a shift roll 544 which normally engages with a neutralizing cam track 545 and is arranged also for engagement alternatively with either of two concentric welt shift cam tracks 546 and 548 formed on the adjacent faces of two cam disks 558 and 552 rigidly secured to the cam shaft 218. A cam roll 554 on the shift lever 548 is arranged for engagement with a cam 556 formed on the periphery of the cam disk 552 to move the shift lever outwardly to inoperative or neutralizing position at the end of each shifting and return movement of the cam shaft, to set up or to close the welt. For moving the shift lever 548 inwardly into operative engagement with one or the other of the shift cam tracks 546 and 548 above referred to, a latch lever 558 is rigidly secured to the pivot pin 542 to move as a unit with the shift lever 548, being acted upon by a latch member 568 supported on a stationary pivot 562 as generally indicated in Fig. l. The latch lever 558 and latch 568 are identical in construction with the latch lever 458 and latch 552 illustrated in side elevation in Fig. 15, and are therefore believed to need no further illustration.

The position of the latch lever 568 is controlled through connections from the pattern chain I35 of the machine, which operate when engaged by a high bump such as that designated at 41l on the pattern chain, to rock the latch 568 sufficiently to permit the movement of the shift lever 548 and roll 544 inwardly into engagement with the inner cam track 548 to shift the cam shaft 218 to the right. This movement of the cam shaft operates to bring the welt vertical motion cam 218 beneath its roller 352, the in and out motion cam 282 beneath its roller 358, to move the disk 382 out of alignment with the in and out motion link cam lever 312 for connecting the in and out motion, and to position the cam 486 in alignment with the follower 482 of the latch lever 394 to unlock the welt vertical and forward and back cam motions. At the completion of the welt setting-up operation, and as the cam shaft 218 nears the completion of one complete revolution, the shift lever 548 and roll 544 are again moved outwardly into alignment with the neutralizing cam path 545 by the engagement of the roll 554 on the shift lever with the cam 556, thus causing the cam shaft 218 to be shifted again to the left to its neutral position. At this time the connecting link 368 of the welt forward and back cam motion will have been disconnected by the engagement of the roll 318 thereon with the cam 382 as above set forth, leaving the pendants 216 and welt bars 280 free to follow the in and out movement of the needles under the influence of the take-up tensioning strap 392.

The welt mechanism is again thrown into operation to close the welt by means of a relatively low bump on the pattern chain such as that indicated at 469 in Fig. 12, which operates through connections hereinafter described, to move the latch lever 56!) so that the shift lever 540 and roll 544 are moved a relatively small distance into engagement with the cam track 546, causing the cam shaft 216 to be shifted to the left. This movement of the cam shaft 210 causes the welt vertical motion cam 28!) to be aligned with the actuating roller 354, the welt in and out motion cam 284 to be aligned with its cooperating roller 366, the disk 382 to be again disconnected from the welt forward and back motion link cam lever 512, and the cam 458 to be engaged beneath the left follower 402 of the latch lever 394 to release the welt vertical and forward and back cam motions. At the end of the welt transfer or closing operation, and as the cam shaft 216 nears the completion of one revolution, the shift lever 560 and roll 544 are again moved outwardly into engagement with the neutralizing cam track 555 to return the cam shaft 216 axially to its neutral inoperative position.

The connections through which actuating movements are imparted to the latch 566, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 12 to 14 inclusive, comprise a link 564 connected at its upper end to the forwardly extending portion of the latch 566, and at its lower end to the laterally extending arm of a pattern chain lever 566 supported to turn on the rock shaft I28, and provided on the other arm thereof with a bump engaging portion 568. The pattern chain lever 566 is also provided with a downwardly extending arm 510 which is arranged to engage against an adjustable stop pin 512 carried on the supporting bracket I29, and is normally held in engagement therewith by means of a tension spring 514.

In order to prevent the inadvertent operation of the welt cam shift mechanism above described, as for example, by the accidental operation of the latch 566, there is provided with the present construction, a safety locking device for the shift mechanism which is arranged to be released by the operation of the pattern chain only when it is desired to effect a shift of the welt cams. This mechanism comprises a safety lever 516 which is supported on a pivot 518, and is arranged at its upper end to engage beneath a pin 580 on the link 565 to lock the link and associated parts including the latch 550 in inoperative position. The position of the safety lever 516 is controlled by means of a pattern chain lever 582 which is supported to turn on the pin I28, and is provided with a pattern bump engaging extension 585. The pattern lever 582 is connected to control the position of the safety lever 516 by means of a link 586 connected at its upper end to a rearward extension of the pattern lever 582, and at its lower end to one arm of a bellcrank 588 supported to turn on the pivot 518, and having its other arm secured to turn as a unit with the safety lever 516. A downward extension of the bell-crank 568 is acted upon by the tension spring 514 to maintain the locking assembly above described in a locking position determined by the engagement of a stop screw 590 on the laterally extending lug 463 with the upper side of the pattern lever 582. The bump engaging portion 564 of the pattern lever 582 is arranged for engagement with the welt shift bumps on the chain slightly in advance of the welt pattern lever 566 therewith, so that the safety lever 516 will have been moved out of alignment with the pin 585 prior to the operation of the pattern mechanism to effect the desired shift of the welt cams. The movement of the bump out of engagement with the pattern levers 566 and 562, will again permit the parts to return to their initial inoperative position with the safety lever 515 in locking position beneath the pin 58!! under the influence of the spring 514.

With the present construction, the pattern lever 566 is operatively connected to the loose course and stitch regulator mechanisms of the machine so that the operation of the pattern lever to effect the shifting of the welt cams for setting up the welt portion of the fabric, will act simultaneously to effect an adjustment of these mechanisms to produce a loose setting-up course. Inasmuch as the specific construction and operation of the stitch regulator and loose course mechanisms to produce the desired needle movements during the knitting of the setting-up course, are fully illustrated in applicants copending application Serial No. 726,285 above referred to, and forms specifically no part of the present invention, only a brief description of these parts is believed necessary. As shown in Fig. 1, the present machine is provided with the usual stitch adjusting 0r regulator mechanism comprising the rock shaft 660 to which is secured a number of identical levers 662 adapted to engage with the downwardly extending tips of the usual cam levers 65 for imparting the forward and back movements to the needles with relation to the press. The rock shaft 660 is turned on its axis to engage the levers 662 with the needle actuating levers 85 to locate the needles laterally with relation to the press edge during the yarn sinking operation to measure the length of stitch by means of the usual stitch regulator cam 604 on the main cam shaft and connections actuated thereby including the usual cam lever 606 loosely pivoted on the rock shaft 656 and actuating lever 565 secured to the rock shaft 500 provided with an adjustable contact screw 616. Also secured to the rock shaft 606 is the loose stitch cam lever 6l2 which carries a cam roll 614 axially movable into operative engagement with a loose stitch cam 6 I6. The position of the cam roll 5! is controlled by means of the usual shift lever 6H! supported on a fixed pivoted 626, the lever 616 and roll 5l4 being normally held in an inoperative position by means of a tension spring 622. Also as more fully set forth in applicants copending application above referred to, there is provided with the loose stitch mechanism, a device for imparting a forward movement of the needles away from the press subsequent to the sinking of the yarn to permit the withdrawal of the welt hooks and loops held thereon above the needles. This mechanism as generally indicated in Fig. 1, comprises a lever 624 supported on the pivot 620 and provided at its free end with a thickened portion which normally extends between the stitch regulator cam lever 696 and the contacting pin 610 on the actuating lever 606. A tension spring 626 connected at one end to the lever 624 and at its other end to the loose stitch actuating lever 5|8 operates when the loose stitch lever 518 is moved to the right to exert an upper pressure on the lever 624 to move the free end thereof out from between 

